Gratitude: Ten Things We Must Not Take For Granted…

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” Gilbert K. Chesterton

Gratitude: Ten Things We Must Not Take For Granted…

1. Life away from a war zone

2. Freedom of choice to move/learn/purchase

3. Clean Water and Clean unpolluted air

4. Basic Health Care

What are you grateful for today? Around the globe, people struggle to find fresh drinking water, food, shelter and the freedom to choose. If you live in a war zone, the conditions are worse as everything stops. People expend all their energy in survival mode as they flee for their lives or live in incredibly stressful conditions. Because supplies can’t be delivered safely, hospitals lack the tools and medicines to treat the sick and wounded and life expectancy decreases rapidly. Assuming you don’t live in a war zone, but live in one of the poorest nations in the world, your choices are limited unless you belong to the elite group or get a lucky business break. In some very poor nations, scholarships for study abroad are not always awarded to the very smart kid from a poor family. So poverty is perpetuated to keep people dependent by limiting options. Where are your kids today?

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” Zig Ziglar

Do you know what your personal/family purchasing power is? According to research, the poorest nations in the world have a much lower GDP (PPP) [“GDP based on purchasing power parity”] per capita. The quality of life of populations, and other determining variables such as life expectancy, income distribution, literacy, and access to assistance are also limited. When electricity, food availability, educational opportunities are very limited, they create a sense of instability, disconnection from the world, and worries about the future. In the 10 richest countries, spending power and access to goods and services are greater and readily available. The things we often take for granted are considered luxuries in other parts of the world, so when we start to complain about minutiae, we need to take a deep breath and consider the worst alternative. Be grateful for what’s here and now. Let tomorrow bring its gifts and believe that our effort and actions will contribute to that tomorrow.

More Below!

“‘Thank you’ is the best (phrase) that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” Alice Walker

Do you view yourself as a have or a have-not? When we live a life of ease; even relative ease, It becomes easy to forget that our creature comforts are not a given in other nations. If we stop to think about our surroundings and the basic things that move our lives forward, we might stop complaining about how unfulfilled our lives are. I live in the USA which is considered one of the richest countries in the world, and I’m grateful to live here. When I think of comparisons of haves and have-nots, I am using this location (USA) as my frame of reference. In the poorest countries, families live together in close quarters; some families might even share a 1-2 room hut, with 3 generations sleeping anywhere they can find a spot on the floor. Freedoms and due process we take for granted might even be lacking. When I think of people who live in war zones, children who live in places with limited educational opportunities or women who live in countries where their movements are restricted, the small things that irritate me fade away and are replaced by a deep feeling of gratitude. Today is a day to reflect and be THANKFUL for what is.

What do I take for granted? Some days, everything. It’s easier to focus on what we don’t have, than what we do have. Our society here in the US has definitely cultured an “I want that” attitude. Consumerism is rampant. Gratitude and contentment are often pushed to the backburner. What an insightful and thought-provoking post. Thanks for sharing.

What a great reminder & list. Where Im staying they are doing construction and blowing up the rocks. Almost every day there is an explosion that shakes my place and even though its going on for awhile Im still startled. It makes me think of countries that are in war zones that go through this but more constant and have to be scared for their lives.At least I can say I am safe even though there is an explosion,

Absolutely incredible post and very eye opening. This actually brings tears to my eyes because so many are suffering and doing everything they can to make it another day. I think it’s so important that everyone realizes how very lucky they have it. If we are able to sit around and read blogs, then we are sure as heck more fortunate than most.

I recently had a plumbing problem with the toilet that meant having to pour jugs of water until the plumber came the next day as it wasn’t flushing. But, it was a short time and at least I still had water, it made me think of the alternative!

This is such an important post for everyone to stop and ponder about. Every time I read about the plight of women in India, unsafe drinking water conditions around the world, groups like IS, human trafficking, and living in areas with religious intolerance – I appreciate where I was born and who were my parents. Too many forget just how HARD others have it around the world.

This is a very sobering post. I travel a lot to developing nations where people do not have clean water, toilets, etc. But when I read “life away from a war zone” my breath caught in my throat. We are truly blessed in this country and we should take more time to remind ourselves of that.

I had a sucky day today BUT after reading your post, I told myself that I have no right to complain. My problems are petty compared to what other people in other parts of the world are going through. Thank you for the reminder, Elizabeth!

It’s amazing how much we take for granted. I always tell my kids they shouldn’t. There are days when they just throw food away because they don’t like it. We have so much to be thankful for but most of us are just ungrateful.